The Ten Commandments are often seen as a list of rules. But in Exodus 20 they begin with a reminder of what God has already done: he brought his people out of slavery. The law is given to a people already rescued.
2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
King James Version
Two tables
- Toward God (commandments 1–4): no other gods, no idols, respect for his name, a day of rest set apart.
- Toward others (commandments 5–10): honour parents, do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie, do not covet.
Jesus’ summary
When he was asked which commandment is the greatest, Jesus answered with two: love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37–40). The ten words show what that love looks like in daily life.
For today
The commandments protect what is precious: our relationship with God, family, life, marriage, property, truth and a heart free from envy. They are not a ladder to earn God’s love, but a path for those who have received it.
Questions for a small group
- Why does God speak of the exodus before giving the commandments?
- Which commandment is most challenged in our culture today?
- What would “a day set apart” look like for your family?
Read the whole chapter in the online Bible.
